Alexander of Aphrodisias: On Aristotle On Coming to be and Perishing 2.2-5
Alexander of Aphrodisias: On Aristotle On Coming to be and Perishing 2.2-5

Author: Alexander Of Aphrodisias

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2014-04-10

Total Pages: 173

ISBN-13: 1472501292

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This important commentary by Alexander of Aphrodisias on Aristotle's work on biochemistry was previously lost. However, four chapters of it have been re-identified in an Arabic translation by Emma Gannage and are here translated for the first time. The chapters were preserved in the writings of an eighth-century alchemist, Jabir ibn Hayyan. In addition to preserving an interesting example of very early cross-cultural scientific activity in the Muslim world, the newly discovered material is of philosophical importance: We learn how Alexander attempted to provide a unified theory that would unite Aristotle's chemistry with his elemental physics. As well as an English translation of the text, this volume includes a detailed introduction demonstrating the authenticity of the work and discussing its contribution to our understanding of ancient science.

On Aristotle's "On Coming to be and Perishing 2.5-11"
On Aristotle's

Author: John Philoponus

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13:

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"Subjects covered in this, the third and last volume of translation of Philoponus' commentary on Aristotle's On Coming-to-Be and Perishing, include: why the elements are four in number; what is wrong with Empedocles' theory of elements; and how homogenous stuffs, particularly the tissues of a living body, come to be and consist of the elements. This book also contains important discussions of causes, particularly of efficient cause, and of necessity in the sphere of generation and corruption. It will be of interest to students of ancient philosophy and science (the commentary draws on earlier philosophical and medical texts); of Patristics and Christian theology (it allows comparison of Philoponus' later creationist doctrine with his earlier ideas about generation); of medieval philosophy (there are a number of parallels with Averroes' commentaries on Aristotle's treatise); and to anyone interested in metaphysics of causation, emergence, necessity, and determination."--BOOK JACKET.

Philoponus: On Aristotle On Coming-to-Be and Perishing 1.1-5
Philoponus: On Aristotle On Coming-to-Be and Perishing 1.1-5

Author: C.J.F. Williams

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2014-04-10

Total Pages: 206

ISBN-13: 1780938683

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The first five chapters of Aristotle's De Generatione et Corruptione distinguish creation and destruction from mere qualitative change and from growth. They include a fascinating debate about the atomists' analysis of creation and destruction as due to the rearrangement of indivisible atoms. Aristotle's rival belief in the infinite divisibility of matter is explained and defended against the atomists' powerful attack on infinite divisibility. But what inspired Philoponus most in his commentary is the topic of organic growth. How does it take place without ingested matter getting into the same place as the growing body? And how is personal identity preserved, if our matter is always in flux, and our form depends on our matter? If we do not depend on the persistence of matter why are we not immortal? Analogous problems of identity arise also for inanimate beings. Philoponus draws out a brief remark of Aristotle's to show that cause need not be like effect. For example, what makes something hard may be cold, not hard. This goes against a persistent philosophical prejudice, but Philoponus makes it plausible that Aristotle recognized this truth. These topics of identity over time and the principles of causation are still matters of intense discussion.

Alexander of Aphrodisias: On Aristotle Prior Analytics 1.14-22
Alexander of Aphrodisias: On Aristotle Prior Analytics 1.14-22

Author: Ian Mueller

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2014-04-22

Total Pages: 279

ISBN-13: 1472501896

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The commentary of Alexander of Aphrodisias on Aristotle's Prior Analytics 1.8-22 is a very important text, being the main ancient commentary with chapters in which Aristotle invented modal logic - the logic of propositions about what is necessary or contingent (possible). The first volume of Ian Mueller's translation covered chapters 1.8-13, and reached as far as the chapter in which Aristotle discussed the notion of contingency. In this, the second volume, the 'greatest' commentator, Alexander, concludes his discussion of Aristotle's modal logic. Aristotle also invented the syllogism, a style of argument involving two premises and a conclusion. Modal propositions can be deployed in syllogisms, and in the chapters included in this volume Aristotle discusses all the syllogisms containing at least one contingent premiss. In each volume, Ian Mueller provides a comprehensive explanation of Alexander's commentary on modal logic as a whole.

Alexander of Aphrodisias: Quaestiones 2.16-3.15
Alexander of Aphrodisias: Quaestiones 2.16-3.15

Author: R.W. Sharples

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2014-04-10

Total Pages: 219

ISBN-13: 1780934602

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This volume completes the translation in this series of Quaestiones attributed to Alexander of Aphrodisias, the leading ancient commentator on Aristotle. The Quaestiones are concerned with physics and metaphysics, psychology and divine providence. They exemplify the process whereby Aristotle's thought came to be organised into 'Aristotelianism' and show how interpretations were influenced by doctrines of Hellenistic philosophy. Some, translated into Arabic and thence into Latin, played a part in the transmission of ancient Greek philosophy to the medieval world. Those interested in Aristotle's psychological views will find this half of Quaestiones particularly valuable. Ten of the problems discussed explicitly involve issues raised in On the Soul, including the unity of apperception and the transition from first to second actuality in the act of contemplation. A further dozen concern problems in physical theory, including infinity, necessity and potentiality. Quaestio 2.21 concerns divine providence and helps supplement our knowledge of Alexander's position based on surviving Arabic fragments of his On Providence.

Alexander of Aphrodisias: Quaestiones 1.1-2.15
Alexander of Aphrodisias: Quaestiones 1.1-2.15

Author: R.W. Sharples

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2014-04-10

Total Pages: 190

ISBN-13: 1780934572

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The Quaestiones attributed to Alexander of Aphrodisias, the leading ancient commentator on Aristotle, are concerned with physics and metaphysics, psychology and divine providence. They exemplify the process by which Aristotle's thought came to be organised into 'Aristotelianism', and show how interpretations were influenced by the doctrines of Hellenistic philosophy. Some of them, translated into Arabic and thence into Latin, played a part in the transmission of ancient Greek philosophy to the medieval world; and they are still of use today in the interpretation of Aristotle's views on such matters as the problem of universals and the relation between form and matter. The Quaestiones have been studied more and more in recent years; but the present volume and its successor offer the first translation of the whole collection into English or any other modern language.

Philoponus: On Aristotle On Coming to be and Perishing 2.5-11
Philoponus: On Aristotle On Coming to be and Perishing 2.5-11

Author: Philoponus,

Publisher: A&C Black

Published: 2014-04-22

Total Pages: 233

ISBN-13: 147250125X

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Until the launch of this series over ten years ago, the 15,000 volumes of the ancient Greek commentators on Aristotle, written mainly between 200 and 600 AD, constituted the largest corpus of extant Greek philosophical writings not translated into English or other European languages. Subjects covered in this, the third and last, volume of translation of this work include: why the elements are four in number; what's wrong with Empedocles' theory of elements; how homogeneous stuffs, particularly the tissues of a living body, come to be and consist of the elements. The volume also contains very important discussions of causes, particularly of efficient cause, and of necessity in the sphere of generation and corruption. It is of interest to students of ancient philosophy and science (the commentary draws on earlier philosophical and medical texts); of Patristics and Christian Theology (it allows comparison of Philoponus' later creationist doctrine with his earlier ideas about generation); of medieval philosophy (this text was known to the Arabs; it is used by Avicenna and Averroes); and to anyone with interest in the metaphysics of causation, emergence, necessity and determinism.